Australia Day Protests Spark Vandalism Across Major Cities

In protest of Australia Day, activists have vandalized monuments linked to colonial history, calling attention to ongoing issues of racism and Indigenous rights associated with the holiday.

On January 26, 2025, protestors took to the streets of Australia in a powerful display of dissent against Australia Day, a national holiday viewed by many as a stark reminder of colonial oppression. Rather than celebrate, a group of demonstrators vandalized statues of British settlers and monuments related to the English monarchy across Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, emphasizing the growing tension surrounding the day.

Australia Day commemorates the arrival of a British fleet into Sydney Harbor, which marked the beginning of a penal settlement in the 18th century. While some Australians celebrate with festive gatherings, others observe the day as a painful reminder of historical injustices against Indigenous populations. This divide has led some activists to refer to January 26 as Invasion Day or Survival Day, expressing their discontent through protests and acts of vandalism.

In Sydney, one of the more high-profile instances of vandalism involved a statue of Captain James Cook, the British navigator who claimed part of Australia for the crown in 1770. The statue was covered in red paint, and both its hand and nose were severed. This was not the first attack on the memorial; it had been restored following a similar incident the previous year.

In Melbourne, protesters toppled a statue of John Batman, the city's founder, who much like Cook, settled on land occupied by Indigenous people. They also spray-painted "land back" on a memorial dedicated to Australian soldiers from World War I, drawing attention to the critical issue of land rights for Indigenous communities.

The recent vandalism and protests serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing conversation about Australia's colonial past and its impact on present-day relations with Indigenous Australians. As the nation grapples with its history, many voices are calling for a reevaluation of how Australia Day is commemorated.